Resuscitating apparatus



April 7, 1936. L. v. SNYDER EIAL 2,036,371

RE SUSC I TATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 193

I [NI/EN 012:

3 xwrlw ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES RESUSCITATINGAPPARATUS Louis V. Snyder and Thomas Leggerie, Mount Vernon, N. Y.

Application August 16, 1934, Serial No. 740,180 Claims. (01. 128-28) Ourpresent invention relates to resuscitating apparatus, and aims to devisedevices of the general character indicated, which aresimple inconstruction, which are easy and economical to oper- 5 ate and assemble,and which are admirably adapted to perform the intended functions ashereinafter more specifically set forth.

In the accompanying specification we shall describe,. and in the annexeddrawing show an illustrative embodiment of the resuscitating apparatusofthe present invention. It is, however, to be clearly understood that wedo not wish to be limited to the exact construction described and shownherein for purposes of illustration only;

Before describing our invention in detail, we deem it advisable,briefly, to refer to the prior art in the field to which the presentinvention relates, the disadvantages thereof, and the manner in whichthe'present invention overcomes and eliminates such disadvantages.

It has, heretofore, been the practise in applylng artificial respiration,to a non-breathing patient requiring the same, to alternately apply andrelieve pressure on the back immediately below the patients lower ribsso as to bring about compression and expansion of the lungs, thusforcing air out of the patients body and introducing air into thepatients body because of the vacuum created upon the release of thepressure."

3 The method generally used is known as the Schafer prone-pressuremethod". In this method the desired pressure is obtained by the use ofthe hands alternately pressing and then letting go so as to permit aresumption of the normal position of the particular organs of the bodyeffected? V There are certain disadvantages inherent in the use of sucha method of resuscitation which disadvantages the present inventionsuccessfully overcomes. In the first place by using the hands to exertthe necessary pressure, we necessarily bring into the picture the humanelement. By that we mean that it is most difiicult to apply the properamount of pressure, the length of time that the pressure should bemaintained before releasing the same. and the timing or cadence of thealternate application and releasing of the pressure. Furthermore,inasmuch as the person 5 applying the artificial respiration is usinghis hands, the latter are not free to do anything else,

and it is often necessary that the mere application of artificialrespiration is not-suflicient to revive the patient, and auxiliary meansmust be 55 resorted to. Obviously, such means cannot be resorted to asthe hands of the person applying the artificial respiration are notfree.

The present invention overcomes and eliminates these disadvantages byproviding a means for practising the so-called prone-pressure 5 method",mechanically, thus eliminating the human element, assuring the properamount of pressure being applied, the proper length of time for theapplication of each stroke of pressure, and assuring the timing orcadence ofthe appli- 10 cations and eliminating the necessity ofchanging operators which change always acts to the detriment of thepatient. It furthermore permits the operator the free use of his handsso that should any auxiliary treatment be necessary in conjunc- 15 tionwith the artificialrespiration, the operator is free to carry out suchtreatment. Other advantages of the present invention wilhbecome obviousto those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates asthe detailed descrip- 20 tion thereof progresses.

In the accompanying drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the aforesaid illustrativeembodiment of the'resuscitating apparatus of the present invention; 2

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken along line 2-2of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the same, illustrating the manner inwhich the entire apparatus may be collapsed, and thereby made portable.30

Referring now more in detail to the aforesaid illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention, and with particular reference to the drawingillustrating the same, reference character I generally designates a.platform sufficient in 5 length when opened to support the body of aperson requiring artificial respiration, the platform consisting,preferably, of three (3) sections hinged as at Ia and supported upon aseries of legs lb. Mounted beneath the central section of the platform Iis an electric motor 2, the drive shaft of which operates, through areducing gear train 3 (not specifically shown), a worm wheel 4. The wormwheel 4 is fixed upon a shaft 5 which is journalled in brackets 6 fixedto the under-side of the central section of the platform I, and mountedupon the shaft 5 is a pair of cams I maintained in contact with across-bar 8 by means of expansion springs 9 to which the cross-bar 8 isfixed. The springs are coiled about reciprocable rods Ill, and abut theunder-side of the central section of the platform I, and discs I l fixedto the lower ends of the rods l0.

'The rods 10 are maintained at an angle other than a right angle withrespect to the platform as I, and are reciprocable in bushings I2 fixedin the central section of such platform. The upper ends of the rods IIIare provided with notches I3 with which there are engageablethurnbscrews l4 carried in clamps IS, the arrangement being such thatthe height of the clamps l5 from the platform I may be varied, as willalso be the apparatus supported by such clamps, and which will now bedescribed. Carried by the clamps I5 is a cross-bar I6, this cross-barbeing supported in such manner as to be permanently but rotatablyfastened to one of the clamps so as to allow the same to be swung aboutto permit the patient to be placed in proper position and beingsupported by the remaining clamp by means of a catch H. The cross-bar i6is provided with a series of notches H! with which there is engageable apair of thumbscrews l9 carried in clamps 20 adapted to support pressureapplying elements 2| which may be in the form of padded knobs. Thearrangement of the elements 2| is such as to permit their adjustmentdepending upon the size of the patient to be treated.

When not in use, the foregoing apparatus can be made portable by merelyfolding down the outer sections of the platform I as shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawing, and providing the exposed apparatus above the centralsection of such platform with a cover A having a handle B as indicatedin dotted lines in the same figure of the drawing.

This completes the description of the aforesaid illustrative embodimentof the present invention and the operation thereof may-be brieflysummarized as follows:

A person requiring artificial respiration is placed upon the platform I,the cross-bar l6 being swung out of the way to permit this and then thecross-bar I6 is swung back and is raised or lowered, and the clamps 20are longitudinally adjusted until the pressure applied elements 2! arebrought into proper position in relation to the patients back andimmediately beneath the lower ribs. Then, after fastening the variouselements in place by means of the thumbscrews l4 and IS, the motor 2 isoperated to bring about the rotation of the shaft .5. Through the cams lthe cross-bar 8 is moved away from the shaft 5 until the cams reach themaximum radius of operation. Atthat time the cross-bar 8 is returned toits normal position by the action of the springs 9. Through the rods l0and crossbar IS, the same motion is imparted to the crossbar 8, and thuspressure is alternately applied and released upon the patient so as tobring about artificial respiration. Such artificial respiration may becontinued until the patient is revived. The movement of the elements 2|is downwardly and forwardly and upwardly and rearwardly.

This completes the description of the operation of the aforesaidillustrative embodiment of the present invention, and it will be seentherefrom that by means of the resuscitating apparatus of the presentinvention the human element referred toin the earlier parts of thisspecification has been removed, the proper amount of pressure,

and the proper amount of time for the exertion of such pressure can beobtained, the timing or cadence of the alternate application and reliefof the pressure is perfect, and the hands of the operator are free toprovide the patient with any auxiliary treatment that may be necessary.In addition to these advantages, it will be clear that the apparatus issimple in construction, easy, and economical to assemble and operate,and exceedingly efficient in performing the intended functions. Othersuperiorities and advantages of the resuscitating apparatus of thepresent invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art to whichthe present invention relates.

What we claim as our invention is:

.- 1. Resuscitating apparatus comprising a collapsible and portableplatform, receptive of a patient requiring resuscitation, and supportingpressure applying means, and means for alternately moving saidpressure-applying means downwardly and forwardly, and upwardly andrearwardly.

2. Resuscitating apparatus comprising a collapsible and portableplatform, receptive of a patient requiring resuscitation, and supportingpressure-applying means, means to adjust said pressure-applying meansagainst the patients back adjacent his lower ribs according to his size,

and means for. alternately moving said pressureapplying means downwardlyand forwardly, and upwardly and rearwardly.

3. Resuscitating apparatus comprising a collapsible and portableplatform, receptive of a patient requiring resuscitation, and supportingpressure-applying means, cam-actuated means for moving saidpressure-applying means downwardly and forwardly, and resilient meansfor returning said pressure-applying means to normal position by movingthe same upwardly and.

rearwardly.

4. Resuscitating apparatus comprising a collapsible and portableplatform supporting pressure-applying means, means to adjust saidprespressure-applying elements and said source of power to alternatelymove said pressure applying elements downwardly and forwardly, andupwardly and rearwardly, said means including a cross-bar connectingsaid pressure-applying elements,cam means driven by said source of powercooperable with said cross-bar to impart said downward and forwardmovement to said pressure-applying elements, and spring means to impartsaid upward and rearward movement to said I pressure-applying elementsafter said cam means has reached its maximum radius of operation.

LOUIS V. SNYDER. THOS. IMGERIE.

